A Mini-review of extreme self-reliant behavior of older Japanese adults in interpersonal relationships

Abstract

There is a social understanding in the phrase “Hito ni meiwaku wo kakete wa ikenai” (Don’t impose on others) that is widely adopted in Japanese society. People interpret this norm to mean that they should attempt to do as much as they can on their own and refrain from asking others for help. The Japanese sense of ‘independence” seems counter-intuitive given the prevalent perspective of Japanese group behavior as based on dependence in a vertical society structure. Nevertheless, this paper suggests that there is a strong ‘Japanese sense of independence’ to do their best without asking for help even in situations where they cannot cope with various difficulties on their own. In this study, we discuss the Japanese definition of independence and autonomy and the rights of older people that may play a role in constructing the societal norms and values in Japanese society. Furthermore, this study reviewed literature from Japan to investigate psychological factors related to specific Japanese values in interpersonal relationships. Our mini-review revealed that ‘family,’ especially ‘children,’ was the most frequently cited object that older people did not wish to bother. Moreover, there was a tendency among older adults to prioritize consideration for others over their own needs. We will discuss the psychological aspects behind this ‘norm’ that may have influenced the well-being of older adults.